Orioles at Higginsville turns into laugher

So much for the close-game-on-paper theory.

The Concordia Orioles smacked around the host Higginsville Huskers to the tune of 40-6 Friday in the first-ever meeting on the gridiron between the two Lafayette County schools.

"Defensively, we gave up a few more big plays than we would have liked, but I felt the offense did a good job," CHS head coach John Cox said.

Concordia scored touchdowns on its first four possessions, building a 26-6 lead by halftime. The Orioles allowed some plays to Higginsville, including being flagged 12 times, but when push came to shove, the Orioles shoved the hardest and scored two more times in the fourth quarter.

The Orioles scored the first time they had the ball, driving 69 yards for a touchdown. Luke Kapala capped it with a 41-yard run.

The Huskers tried to respond as DeShaun Thirkield hit Tyrell Thirkield with a 44-yard pass play, but on the next play, DeShaun Thirkield was hit, fumbled and it was recovered by the Orioles.

"We were flying around on defense, making plays," Cox said.

The Orioles drove 45 yards for their second touchdown, a 2-yard run by quarterback Kent Schuette, which was set up by a 30-yard pass from Schuette to Kapala two plays previous.

So less than eight minutes deep in the game, the Orioles led 12-0.

The Orioles drove 64 yards for their third touchdown, a 7-yard run by Collin Werths with 10 minutes left in the half. Carter Brown, who had missed the initial point-after-touchdown kick, booted the ball through the uprights this time for a 19-0 advantage.

Another Oriole defensive stop set up a 67-yard scoring drive, Werths racing 17 yards to paydirt. Brown's kick made the lead 26-0 with 2:41 left in the half.

DeShaun Thirkield led the Huskers on their only scoring drive of the night, capping the march with a 41-yard scoring strike to Cody Sanders, who had gotten behind the CHS defense with 30 seconds left in the half.

The start of the second half was important. Higginsville moved the ball, completing a third-and-17 pass for 25 yards, getting the ball on the CHS side of the 50. But the Huskers were stopped, punted and forced CHS's lone turnover, an interception thrown by Schuette.

Set up in good field position, the Huskers failed to move it, turning over the ball on downs.

The Orioles took possession that time and drove 76 yards for a back-breaking 11-yard touchdown run by Wolski with 11 minutes left in the game.

"Our defense was on the field the most in the third quarter, but it was able to make the plays," Cox said.

The Orioles had one more touchdown drive in them, marching 78 yards in the waning minutes, backup Dan Miller scooting the final 16 yards with 3 minutes left in the game.

Holding DeShaun Thirkield in check was a key. The Orioles did just that, harassing him much of the night, sacking him twice and holding him to minus-28 yards rushing. The Huskers accumulated negative-15 yards rushing as a team.

"We knew one guy couldn't take him down. There were a lot of white jerseys around the football," Cox said. "We definitely keyed on him and did a lot of scramble-type drills."

Time of possession wasn't available, but the Orioles ran 65 offensive plays to 36 for Higginsville. Concordia totalled 27 first downs to five for the Huskers.

"They had some really short time of possessions with the football," Cox said. "We scored on our first four possessions and they got to where they had to start throwing the ball more.

"We did a good job of keeping the ball, eating up the clock and not letting them have the ball and getting in rhythm."

The Orioles rushed for 418 yards, including 123 yards in 14 carries for Werths and 122 yards in 14 totes for Kapala. Wolski added another 86 yards and Schuette another 58.

"People like to think you can pack the box on us, but when you've got four guys who can carry the football, inside and outside, it makes it pretty tough," Cox said. "Hopefully, we can just keep that going.

"Our carries were balanced, too. Zach had 15 carries and Kent had 12."

Being versatile makes opponents cringe.

"We used everybody and had success using everybody," Cox said. "That says a lot about the balance of our offensive line.

"We're not just running behind J. R. (Langkrahr) or Travis Small like we did a lot last year. We're counting on and using our whole offensive line. Hopefully, it pays off for us."

Keeping the ball on the ground is important. Schuette had 64 yards through the air.

"Throwing the ball, we were four for six. That's right where we want to be. We want to throw the ball about four to five times a game, just to keep people honest," Cox said.

The Orioles, 1-0, host Rock Port, which lost its season opener 20-12 to East Buchanan, Friday night at 7.

"They've got a really strong running game. They're going to go double-tight, full house backfield. They're similar to Orrick in the way they run the football," Cox said. "They run it right at you, and we've got to be prepared for that.

"I think our defense's strength is stopping the run. I think that caters to us a little bit. But we'll find out."